Dear Parents,
We welcome your student to Newport-Mesa Unified School District and hope this will be a very healthy and productive year! In order to ensure optimum health of students and comply with district, county and state health requirements, please note the following:
I. IMMUNIZATIONS FOR SCHOOL:
To enter school, parents must present a signed or stamped immunization medical record from a physician or clinic. Students are required to meet all state immunization requirements. Students who have not yet completed the immunization series are allowed to attend school only on condition that they are in progress and up-to-date in the sequence of required immunizations or have a CAIR-ME medical exemption on file at school. For school immunization Information and requirements go to California Department of Public Health site.
History of disease requires a CAIR-ME medical exemption. Go to CAIR-ME for medical exemption information.
II. ORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT:
To make sure your child is ready for school, California law, Education Code Section 49452.8, requires that your child have an oral health assessment (dental check-up) by May 31 in either Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten or first grade, whichever is their first year in public school. Assessments that have happened within the 12 months before your child enters school also meet this requirement. The law specifies that the assessment must be done by a licensed dentist or other licensed or registered dental health professional.
Take the Oral Health Assessment/Waiver Request form (linked below) to the dental office, as it will be needed for your child’s check-up. If you cannot take your child for this required assessment, please indicate the reason for this in Section 2 of the waiver. You can get more copies of the necessary form at your child’s school or online from the California Department of Education website. California law requires schools to maintain the privacy of students’ health information. Your child’s identity will not be associated with any report produced as a result of this requirement.
The following resources will help you find a dentist and complete this requirement for your child:
- Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal’s toll-free number or website can help you to find a dentist who takes Denti-Cal: 1-800-322- 6384 or Denti-Cal. For help enrolling your child in Medi-Cal/Denti-Cal, contact your local social service agency at 1-800-281-9799 or SSA (Social Services Agency).
- Healthy Families’ toll-free number or website can help you find a dentist who takes Healthy Families insurance or to find out if your child can enroll in the program: 1-800-880-5305 or BenefitsCal.
- For additional resources that may be helpful, contact your local public health department at the Department of Health Care Services website.
Many things influence a child’s development and success in school, including health. If you have questions about the oral health assessment requirement, please contact your school nurse.
Best Regards,
Health Services